What happened at night (Thiam)(Rewriting)

Chapter 30

Previously on What happened at night

Theo's Pov

The days were getting colder, and I could feel the Christmas season creeping closer with every passing day. The lights were up, the tree was decorated, and soon it would be time to share the holiday with family. I was looking forward to the traditions we'd begin for Parker, the memories we'd make. But more than anything, I was looking forward to another year with Liam and Parker—together, facing whatever came next.

Because no matter how much time passed, no matter how quickly Parker grew, I knew one thing for sure. As long as we were together, everything else would fall into place.

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Theo's Pov

December 10th, 2018.

Outside the window, the world was painted in shades of gray and white. The temperature had dropped overnight, leaving a thin blanket of snow on the ground—a gentle preview of the full winter to come. I stood in the living room with Parker in my arms, watching the flakes flutter by. She reached a tiny hand toward the window, her fingers splayed as if she wanted to grab the snow out of the air.

"Isn't it pretty?" I murmured, my eyes never leaving her. She was nearly seven months old now, and each day felt like a new discovery. A new way for her to see the world, and a new way for me to see it through her eyes.

Behind us, I heard Liam rummaging in the kitchen cabinets, the clink of dishes signaling he was searching for something. "Theo?" he called out. "Are we out of cocoa mix?"

I tore my gaze from the snowfall and walked over to peer into the kitchen. Parker nestled against me, cooing at the change of scenery. "I think I left it in the pantry," I replied, shifting Parker to my other arm as I opened the pantry door. Sure enough, the familiar box of cocoa mix lay behind a few cans of soup.

"Got it," I said, triumphantly retrieving the box and handing it to Liam.

He grinned, taking it from me. "Perfect. I need something to warm me up. It's freezing in here."

I laughed softly. "It's December, and there's snow outside. Did you expect anything less?"

"I guess not," Liam said, shrugging as he tore open a packet and dumped it into a mug. "But I still think we need to turn up the heat."

Parker squirmed in my arms, and I instinctively began rocking her from side to side. "It's not that bad," I teased. "I grew up with worse winters than this. But sure, crank it up if you want."

With Parker's attention shifting back to the window, I set her down in her bouncer, making sure she was comfortable and within view of both me and the window. Her wide eyes flicked between the falling snow and the lit Christmas tree in the corner, its lights twinkling in shades of red and green.

As Liam microwaved the water for his cocoa, I moved to sit on the couch, my attention drifting to the array of Christmas decorations we'd put up over the weekend. Parker's first Christmas was in full swing: the stockings were hung, the tree was glowing, and the scent of cinnamon candles lingered in the air. It felt magical, in that cozy, homey way I'd never quite experienced before.

"How's she doing?" Liam asked, joining me with his steaming mug of cocoa.

"Good. She's fascinated by the snow. She's never seen it before."

He smiled, sipping from his mug before setting it aside. "We should take her outside to see it up close. Maybe build a tiny snowman for her."

I glanced at Parker, my heart swelling at the idea of sharing this experience with her. "We can, but maybe wait until it's a bit deeper. Right now, it's just enough to cover the grass. Maybe if it snows again..."